Your Image on Campus

/ The Georgia District of Circle K International

Your Image on Campus

Your Image on CampusPage 1

History of Student Activities

Student Activities is a recent phenomenon but it has its early history in England, Scotland, and the Netherlands during the American Colonial period. It was an attempt to stop young men who, left to their own devices, sought to brawl and rebel against faculty members. (Morison, 1935)

Lewis (1981) wrote: “In the eighteenth century, German students formed clubs called landsmannschaften (students from the province). Activities included fencing, drinking, and initiating freshman into the clubs. England saw a more extensive program: card parties, plays, riding, fox hunting, and horse racing. Political clubs, literary clubs, social debating societies, philosophy clubs, social clubs, and athletic clubs were formed during this time.

Student Activities are usually labeled as the structured events in which students participate outside of the classroom. Although faculty, and to a larger degree staff, have a major role in the facilitation of such activities – students play the most significant role in their development, structure, and implementation. The overarching goal of student activities is the development of students’ leadership, identity, productivity, and college experiences. (Rentz and Saddlemire 1988)

Mueller (1961) indicated that a student activities program should provide:

(1)A favorable continuation of the socialization process of the individual.

(2)Opportunities for experiences in good group interactions and relationships.

(3)The development of leaders for leadership on the campus and in later life.

Dia’s Guiding Light

“How do you go from where you are to where you want to be? I think you have to have enthusiasm for life. You have to have a dream, a goal, and you have to be willing to work for it.” (Jim Valvano)

“How do you go from where you are to where you want to be (invisible to visible?)

I think you have to have enthusiasm for life. (Understanding where you fit on campus)

You have to have a dream (purpose)

A goal (mission)

And you have to be willing to work for it.” (tips for improving)

(Parenthetical notes added by Darryl Holloman.)

Purpose

Purpose – something one intends to get or do

Possible purposes for Circle K may surround Cas standards: program (2), leadership (3), organization/ management (4), campus/ community relations (10), Diversity (11), ethics (12), and assessment and evaluations (13).

Mission

Mission – A sending out or being sent out to perform a special duty.

Cas Mission – The campus activities program must develop, record, disseminate, implement and regularly review its mission and goals. Mission statements must be consistent with the mission and goals of the institution and with the standards in this document.

Are you hid – NO! Tips for visibility

If budgets permits – wear and give tee shirts

Have a Circle K Day

Co-sponsor with other organizations

Create contest: homecoming

Participate in graduations, freshman orientation, group weeks (Greeks)

Open service opportunities to campus

Work with Service Learning Offices

Create a visible place to announce meetings or membership drives

Copywrite 2003, Darryl Holloman, GeorgiaStateUniversity.

Ideas for Improving Your Club’s Image on Campus

What is your club doing on campus to get recognized? Following are some recommendations based on what other clubs are doing throughout Circle K International.

BethanyCollege (West Virginia) serves light refreshments to the members of the incoming freshman class and their parents during a reception hosted by the college president at his home near the campus.

Colorado School of Mines (Rocky Mountain District) participates in the "Celebration of Mines" every Fall, a fair at which all clubs can participate. The club gives away free food such as popcorn, flavor ice and soft drinks.

Eastern Canada & Caribbean District has the following suggestions: clubs can assist with orientation and by doing this they can provide Circle K information packages and set up booths. Do worthwhile projects on campus and put the Circle K logo on promotional pieces as a part of marketing. Build a good rapport with the student body representative. Encourage joint projects with other clubs. Use posters to advertise.

Lanton Lee, Kiwanis International Sponsor a major, recommends visible service projects on campus such as a Dance Marathon, Teeter-Totter Marathon (The Ohio State University has done this annually for the past 30 years), or a Swing-A-Thon. Do the service project in a very visible area like your student center or campus quad area. Help with student move-in in the fall - volunteer to help freshmen move into the Residence Halls. Check with the office that coordinates new student programs or orientation to find out if this is possible. Volunteer to help with major campus events such as Homecoming. Meet with your Student Activities director and Community Service Director regularly on campus to find out how to be more involved in campus life and keep them informed of your club activities. These people should know your club president or a club representative by first name. Get someone from Circle K involved with your student government either as an elected official or as committee member. Attend campus events and leadership conferences. These are great places to network with other student leaders and key campus administrators.

In the Montana District, many schools send members to other clubs on campus to network. The people on campus who are really involved are always in more than one club so this helps get your club’s name out there.

MontanaStateUniversity (Montana District) does a campus clean up and challenges other clubs. It is well advertised and affects the whole campus plus it is service so that draws good attention.

NortheasternUniversity in Boston (New England District) does a few things to distinguish itself. Four (4) times a year we do a blood drive with the American Red Cross. Fliers and posters go up around campus -- every residence hall and in the student center and in faculty mailboxes and student mailboxes, etc. On the flier it says both “American Red Cross” and “Sponsored by NU Circle K” and gives our phone number and e-mail (they have to call us to book a time to give blood!). By placing the club's name on these fliers we are now associated with blood drives on campus and doing good things in the community. Another thing we do to stand out is to send out a small mailer (like the size you'd get that advertises a party at a club on a Thursday or Friday night) that provides a brief description of the club, what we do, where and when we meet and this gets people to our meetings. Other clubs do not advertise through this direct mail campaign.

Potomac State College Circle K Club (West Virginia District) hosted a "Battle of the Bands" to raise funds for the local Boys and Girls Club.

Southern Illinois University Carbondale (Illinois-Eastern Iowa District) tries hard to brand the Circle K logo, as it stands out from the letters of the Greek system and from most other campus groups. It also attracts people who know about Key Club and/or Kiwanis. We put the logo on all of our fliers throughout the year, on the posters for any big events we sponsor or co-sponsor, and we wear Kiwanis Peanut Day jackets when we do our Adopt-a-Highway project.

University of Denver (Rocky Mountain District) has a service-learning requirement for some of their classes. The club capitalized on it, inviting all students to their projects. The club also has signature service projects, such as making peanut-butter sandwiches, Project Angel Heart (meals for AIDS victims), and playing bingo at a retirement home. The club also makes t-shirts with memorable logos, such as "Duckies," (short for DU CKI Club).

West Virginia University Circle K Club (West Virginia District) uses a free ad space in the Student Newspaper to announce their weekly Meeting Time and Place.

West Virginia Wesleyan College Circle K Club (West Virginia District) decorates the College Chapel and Administration during the Christmas Season with the "Hanging of the Greens".

Wheeling Jesuit University Circle K Club (West Virginia District) hosts and plans the Regional Special Olympics for Northern West Virginia (10 Counties - 150 Plus Special Olympians), obtaining the assistance of other groups (clubs) on campus and the local Kiwanis Family members (Key Clubs, Builders Clubs and Kiwanis Clubs)

Thanks to our contributors:

Dan Conrod, 2002-2003 CKI Governor, Illinois-Eastern Iowa District
Michelle Kenward, 2002-2003 CKI Governor, Eastern Canada & Caribbean District
Kadia Krantz, 2002-2003 CKI Governor, Montana District
Lanton L. Lee, Director of Leadership Education and Development, Sponsored Organizations and Programs, Kiwanis International
Teri Lutzen, 2002-2003 CKI President, University of WisconsinWaukesha
Zach Scully, 2002-2003 CKI Governor, Rocky Mountain District
Dave Stender, 2002-2003 CKI Governor, New England District
Dr. Roger L. (Doc) Williams, District Administrator, West Virginia District